For a couple of seasons now, Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart has been considered one of the best prospects/young players in Major League Baseball. Before last season, Swihart was even named baseball’s number one catching prospect. With the Sox facing a shaky situation at the position late last year, Swihart was given an opportunity to join the big league club, and flashed much of the potential we had heard so much about.
In eighty-four games last season, the 24-year-old hit .274 in just over 300 total plate appearances. Swihart has long been considered a future star at the plate, and he proved that last season. Coming into the 2016 season, many Red Sox fans hoped that the young catcher had progressed even more and would be even better with a bat in his hands.
Time For The Boston Red Sox To Trade Blake Swihart
Unfortunately, that’s been far from the case, as Swihart has looked completely lost in the batter’s box. He has virtually no plate vision or discipline, and he fails to recognize situations at the plate. In a loss to Baltimore last week, Swihart came to the plate with the bases loaded, the previous two Red Sox batters having each reached on a hit-by-pitch. The Oriole pitcher was clearly fazed and out of energy, meaning either an easy-to-hit pitch or walk was very likely to come.
What does Swihart do? He swings at the first pitch of the at-bat; a curveball in the dirt. The rest of the plate appearance was not much better, as he was retired to end the inning at a crucial point in the contest.
He has also been absolutely horrendous behind the plate, as he has been unable to block a ball in the dirt and has botched easy pop-ups in foul territory. In addition to his defensive woes, Swihart does not work well with any of his pitching staff, as he is constantly being shaken off by his pitcher.
As a result of his early season struggles, Swihart was sent down to Triple-A Pawtucket to get a shot at left field, a move that isn’t likely to improve his value on the trade market.
Blake Swihart is still very young, and doesn’t have a ton of Major League experience, but it’s time for the Red Sox to move on. Not because he’s a guy they need to give up on, but because his value is at it’s absolute highest. As he continues to age and under-perform, the hype and potential surrounding the highly-valued young catcher will only go down.
As the buzz around him decreases, so does his trade value. Swihart is still considered a top prospect, and could easily be packaged in a potential trade for the big-time pitcher that the Red Sox desperately need. The Sox have been linked to guys like Oakland Athletics ace Sonny Gray, and Swihart would be an intriguing piece for the A’s in a potential return for their star.
It’s unfair to say Swihart won’t be a good Major League player after just a few games, but he certainly doesn’t look like a guy who was a top-ten prospect. The Boston Red Sox desperately need starting pitching, and Swihart’s high trade value gives them a piece that could allow them to go out and get the help they need.
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